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Sorry for the delay this week but have had to wait for the Northwest Cross Country results to be finalised and distributed.

Delamere Park Run number 49 on Saturday 8th February saw Dave Feakes first home for Helsby in a great 23rd overall. Next home and first Helsby lady was Laura Baynham-Hughes for 32nd and a brilliant course PB. Well done to Hugh Barnes for his PB also. Nine out for Helsby in total, so well done to all who ran.

Sunday saw the final Northwest Cross Country XC at Birchwood and a lower turnout from all clubs than in some of the XC races this year but we had a good showing from Helsby with 11 runners in total. First man home was Colin Bishop and first Helsby lady was Vanessa. I’ve heard no reports from the race but I’m presuming it was a muddy one!

It was also the Liverpool & District XC Championship Sunday 9th February at Clarkes Gardens. Well done to John Hardman sole Helsby representative. Full results attached below. Not a bad turnout considering it clashed with the Northwest XC.

Sunday was also the Maddog 10k at Southport with 5 out for Helsby. Race report from Colin Thompson below:

“Myself, Steve Wiggins, Helen, Jo Lacking and Clare braved the rain and gale force winds to run the Southport Maddog 10k on Sunday. This, as always, is a brilliantly organised 10k race and a personal favourite of mine. On a good day it’s one of the fastest courses around, an up and back route along the prom, but sadly everybodys time was a fair way off their best due to the terrible weather conditions. We all still had a great run though and the brave singers (Elvis is still alive and well it seems) and supporters on route was excellent and one of the best goody bags and medal at the finish was a nice end to a very enojyable race.

Sunday was the Northwest Cross Country at Arrowe Park, a flatish cross country in good conditions at just under 5 miles for the 2 and a half lap course. Well done to all and to Joe, Mario, Adrian and Jane for all their support during the race. Colin Bishop flew home as first man for Helsby. First lady was Rachel Adams. Mens Results as follows

Three of the committed fell contingent at Helsby were at the Telford Harriers organised Cardington Cracker on Sunday. This is a 9 mile race with 2600ft of climb round the Shropshire Hills with first home for Helsby Chris Baynham-Hughes followed by Jimmy and Andy. A big field and a great course by all accounts. More information and full results can be found at the link below.

In other news I know a lot of people have been asking about Ian Landucci and Steve Riley has been in contact. The great news is the powerful pistons of Ian Landucci will be making a comeback at the four villages. Ian is feeling better and running again :d

Saturday noon was the Rhobell Fawr Fell Race near Dollgellau, an out and back 6 miler run with 1900ft ascent. You can follow the wall for easier navigation on the climb up but it’s not necessarily the optimum route, especially coming down. This is a gorgeous area to run and interesting in that it is an extinct volcano. Conditions were muddy underfoot as photos show but a brilliant low key fell race, definitely one to try. Just watch out for the rocks and the wall, yes it is somehow possible not to see a wall when you are running!

9th Adair Broughton 1.03.48

For more details, photos or video and map, check out the Meirionnydd website or the Welsh Fell Runners websites as below

On Remembrance Sunday it was already the third race of the Cross Country season, this time being the Northwest XC at Beacon Park, near Skelmersdale. Well done for a good turnout of 17 Helsby runners. Helsby positions as below, no times recorded. First man home for Helsby with another amazing run was Colin Bishop with Jenny Illidge claiming the honours for the ladies. There were some very notable performances on the day so well done to everyone taking part and to all those offering support.

Team Results are also below but please note that we are also teamed with Lymm & Warrington.

Helsby Mens ‘A’ team were 5th and Helsby Mens ‘B’ Team were 4th on the day. Helsby Ladies ‘A’ team were 2nd and Helsby Ladies ‘B’ team showing our current strength in depth were 1st. This meant our combined team were 5th but after two races Helsby Mens ‘A’ team are currently 3rd and Helsby Ladies ‘A’ team are a fantastic joint first! The combined team after two races are third.

Cross country on both days of the weekend, with two very different day’s weather wise. One Helsby member even did the double.

Saturday, 2.00pm saw the 1st Liverpool & District XC at Beacon Park. Andy Smith first home for Helsby on what is normally a tricky cross country course, with the notorious ski slope beckoning twice in the race. Andy tackled it with consummate ease as normal, so we’ll be looking to him for any advice on the course this coming weekend when the Northwest Sunday league heads to Beacon Park.

Full Results are now available for Saturdays race at the Liverpool & District website below. Quote from the organiser below

“Match Results are now in from Beacon Park, A lovely afternoon and the course was not as wet as normal. Thanks to Skem/Bound for once again providing us with a testing course.”

However, Clarke Gardens on Sunday WAS a wetter course than normal with an additional stream appearing this year. However, the grey autumnal and drizzly skies in no way diminished enthusiasm for what was a brilliant turnout for Helsby with 9 men and 4 ladies to really get a good start for the league season. Full results available from Steve’s website here:

Jayne Joy started this season as she finished the last with a brilliant 1st lady from the 57 who ran in total. Vanessa was also in the top ten for a great 9th lady overall with Carol Shaw and Lesley both easily in the top half of the field. This put Helsby ladies in 1st position for the team standings. Helsby also run with Lymm and Warrington.

Fantastic effort from talented new member Colin Bishop coming in 17th overall in a field of 148 men. This placed Colin 2nd in his age category and really helps to bolster our team this year. Lots of battles also going on for 3rd Helsby member with Steve running a strong last lap to come in just before Phil, Adrian and Dave Feakes who all had brilliant runs on the day. Tom deJong ran well not long after his Liverpool marathon efforts. Adair, Andy Smith and Chris were the other Helsby runners out. Helsby helped the mens team to finish in 5th place.

Remember there are no times issued for this league so always worth taking a stop watch if you want those recorded. The course was 1 small lap and 2 large laps with an estimated mileage of 4.9 miles.

Many thanks to all the support on the course which was very prevalent, especially to Joe and Mario and Wayne Percival.

The next cross country is the Northwest League 2 Race at the very traditional Beacon Park nr Skelmersdale. Race is at 10am but unfortunately no extra hour in bed this week! Link below is for directions to Beacon Park taken from Spectrums website

Don’t forget, Castle Park training continues on Monday nights 6.30pm on the top field, all welcome

Jackie has put together another fantastic montage of the fell relays at Church Stretton earlier this month with a great soundtrack, well worth a look. Many thanks to Jackie for doing this, especially as she wasn’t able to be with us on the day

Runners could not have asked for a nicer day to run with great views from Beacon Hill of the Welsh mountains and Liverpool, a grand blue sky and not even a whisper from the golden leaves yet to fall. This is a classic cross country course encompassing two laps of undulating terrain, plenty of mud (you could lose a shoe if you are not careful!) and with the majority of spectators choosing to watch at the top of the first climb made for an interesting morning. Joe, of course, was out supporting in fine voice.

Sandwiches and tea and coffee were available after, if you knew how to get there!

Once again the ladies dominated proceedings with some stunning individual performances that now see a three way tie for the lead in the female team standings. On the day only 1 point separated the first and 2nd lady teams, the 2nd of which was Helsby. All Helsby ladies featured in the top half of the field. Jayne and Vanessa showed their strength on what was a tougher course than last week to finish many places higher than before.

The men stay in 6th place in the league table. Helsby positions below.

The next Sunday League is closer to home at Arrowe Park on Sunday 4th December but please note the later start time of 11.30am (to allow some runners to get from the Liverpool Santa Dash I think). It’s getting exciting to see how the ladies will perform next time out but we could really do with some more men having a run out. Arrowe Park is fairly flat so a good introduction to those wanting to try some cross country.